------------------------------------------8/03 - Lowell writes ...Mr. Niednagel -Hi my name is Lowell. I was wondering if you might have a solution to the Big Foot photos. I mean, does he really exist or is it just a guy dressed up as a man/ape?
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I have to be completely honest with you, Lowell. Of any and all "cryptids," Bigfoot frustrates me the most. So many people have claimed to see one, and even in some not-so-remote places.

Are they all liars? No, I really can't imagine they all are. Often reports are made to the local police while the witnesses ask that they not be identified, clearly showing they're not in it for fame or recognition.

Could they have just seen a guy dressed up as an ape, as you suggested? Yes, I'm sure some of the cases were the result of a cruel prankster who had nothing else better to do with his time. In any case, while Big Foot continues to elude our grasp, we can only speculate what people are seeing.

But get this, Lowell. Last month Manchester Online reported that a team of part-time explorers may have proven the existence of a Yeti-like creature with the discovery of hair and a footprint. They were found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, where tales of the Orang Pendek abound. World-renowned hair expert Dr. Hans Brunner spent 18 months analyzing the DNA, and concluded that they match no known animal. Although this won't convince the world, it comes close to convincing me.

Here's my overall take of the matter: I do believe unknown species of ape still exist today, and it is only matter of time until we find them. Now, whether they walk upright, are intelligent, and are eight feet tall is another matter. Man, I firmly believe, was created by God with an intelligence far beyond any animal. This does not mean, however, that Bigfoot, or whatever name you wish to label these elusive apes, are not smart. On the contrary, if they exist, they are undoubtedly intelligent, cunning, and unlike any other animal known today (although the shaggy-coated mountain gorilla eluded discovery until 1901).

Can't give a definitive answer, Lowell, but I would encourage you to always be open to the fact that unknown species of ape may very well still exist to this day, and someone, someday, somewhere, will find them.

Cryptozoology - The study of the hidden animal world, cryptozoology is a science of speculation and surprise, involving the search for animals thought to be extinct to new creatures never before identified.

Creation vs Evolution - What was popularized in 1859 by former Christian turned agnostic, Charles Darwin, has in our day become one of the most hotly contested and sharply dividing issues to be found anywhere.

Dinosaurs - Considerable controversy surrounds dinosaurs, from their place in history to their color, habits, and overall physiology. As viewpoints collide, the search for answers continues.